Trans TikToker Dylan Mulvaney named to Forbes '30 Under 30' for promoting gender transition on social media

Trans TikToker Dylan Mulvaney, who found stardom after publicly performing a gender transition, has been named to Forbes' "30 Under 30" list. The social media sensation, who posted a video series of himself talking to animals before coming up with the lucrative transition idea, has won numerous awards, including a Woman of the Year award at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards and the Streamy Awards.

Mulvaney, of course, is not a woman. He refers to himself as a "bimbo" with pride, and calls vaginas "Barbie pockets." He also has said that it's time to "normalize the bulge" in a video during which he showed off his own "bulge" in a pair of leather shorts.

Now Mulvaney, who was also at the center of a Bud Light marketing disaster that cost the beer giant millions, is being praised again for gender transitioning. And none of it would have been possible had Mulvaney not decided to start taking estrogen, document the journey through "female puberty," undergo facial feminization surgery, and declare himself on a journey of "girlhood."

Forbes detailed how they come up with their list of influential under 30s, saying "With the help of nominations from the public – as well as expertise from Forbes tech journalists and judges from all corners of creatordom – this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Media list highlights the young founders, industry leaders and online stars transforming the creator economy and future of the internet."

"Our callout, Dylan Mulvaney, 26, is a creator, actress and LGBTQ+ activist who gained virality with her ‘Days of Girlhood’ series that documented her gender transition," they added. In an interview, senior editor for Forbes 30 Under 30 Kristin Stoller gushed over Mulvaney, his transition, and his ambitions.

Stoller asked Mulvaney about "brands that are shying away from LGBTQ representation" and asked what he'd say to brands that don't put gender identity and sexual orientation first in their marketing.

"Well that's a disappointment," Mulvaney said to those brands, like the one he tanked just by being affiliated with it—Bud Light. "We're here and we're not going anywhere. I also think that there are brands that are interested in working with someone like me but maybe don't know how to, or are nervous to get involved or ask the wrong thing. And I say, let's figure it out together. Let's have these hard conversations. And if we don't, then something beautiful can't come from it."

Stoller conflated hesitance of brands to align themselves with trans spokespersons with "trans hate," and praised Mulvaney for coming out the other side of the Bud Light debacle so strong, even as the brand he was repping crashed and burned.

Mulvaney told Stoller that he remembers why he started, which was to "make people laugh, connect and build an audience. And perform. And I think that that's what I always want to come back to, which is why I started this in the first place."

Mulvaney was brought to the White House to advise President Joe Biden on the best way to deal with trans kids. Mulvaney met with Biden on what he said was his "221st day of publicly transitioning."

"God love you," the President said.

Stoller brought that up, and Mulvaney refers to the president as "Grandpa Joe." Mulvaney said the experience was "amazing." Stoller and Mulvaney agreed that Republicans are "blaming society's downfall" on trans people, which is something he had told the president.

Mulvaney asked "Do you have any messages to families of trans folks that are seeking, you know, options for their children, but are struggling to find resources? Do you have a message to those parents?" Biden has spoken out about trans kids multiple times, telling parents that if their child comes home and says they feel like they are meant to be the opposite sex, parents should go along with it immediately, even to the point of giving their children drugs to stunt their development and cross-sex hormones.

Mulvaney told Forbes that the inspiration for taking his transition to TikTok and publicly creating a "Days of Girlhood" series was because he thought it could be helpful for others. "I was looking to all of these iconic trans women but not knowing how to get from point A to point B. I thought, 'Why not take my followers along on this journey?'" he said.

Mulvaney has parlayed his gender transition into major brand sponsorships, like Tampax, Ulta Beauty, KitchenAid, Kate Spade, Valentino, and so many others. He has plans to continue his acting career, but in women's roles this time, and has been seen modeling.

Per a recent TikTok, he loves how much attention people pay to him, especially those who point out that he is a male posing as a woman. He also told Forbes that "right now more than ever we need action, we need advocacy, we need allies and allyship means alot more than just, y'know, a text that says 'I support you,' it needs to be out loud and proud and publicly."

"That makes a lot of sense," Stoller said.